Lux Astra (Latin for “Light of the Stars”) was commissioned by the Cheek Middle School Bands (Denton, TX). Their director, Dr. Gregory Denson, approached me about writing a work that would be programmatic in nature, while also reflective and symbolic of his students’ journey. In addition to their shared experiences in the Cheek band program, these students are also among the first graduating classes from this brand-new school.

While researching the geographic location of the school, I discovered it sits near the University of North Texas’ Rafes Urban Astronomy Lab, which features an observatory far enough from the Denton area that light pollution doesn’t interfere with stunning celestial displays. Often, when we look into the stars, we aren’t seeing them as they are right now, but rather as they were many years ago. The light we see reflects a pathway through space and time, creating the illusion of a still image or fixed point.
I found this juxtaposition fascinating: the journey of the stars, and how that journey ultimately forms an image we can witness in a single moment. I chose to use this metaphor as the foundation for a work that reflects the journey of these students at this point in time.

The opening features shimmering entrances in the mallet percussion, symbolizing the appearance of individual stars before unfolding into vast galaxies. As more voices join, the texture gradually widens as the night sky fills in one point of light at a time until the ensemble is fully illuminated. The music soon accelerates as it carries the listener on a sweeping journey through the cosmos with a sense of forward momentum. Brief episodes along the way allow different orchestrational colors to cut through, offering moments of contrast and discovery as we catch glimpses of new constellations coming into view. The work ultimately gives way to a cinematic climax that draws together all of the momentum from before into an explosive celestial celebration.